Johnson, Eliza McCardle (1810-1876), was the wife of Andrew Johnson, who served as president of the United States from 1865 to 1869. Both she and Andrew were teenagers when they married. Eliza was much better educated than Andrew, and she taught him to write and solve simple problems in arithmetic. She also urged him to study. By the time her husband became president, she had been an invalid for many years. As a result, she was rarely able to host White House social events. Her daughter Martha Patterson usually served in her place.
Mrs. Johnson, whose maiden name was Eliza McCardle, was born in Leesburg, near Greeneville, Tennessee, on Oct. 4, 1810. Her family later moved to Greeneville. Her father was a shoemaker. Andrew Johnson, a native of North Carolina, moved to Greeneville in 1826. Eliza McCardle and Johnson met there, and they married on May 17, 1827. The couple had five children. The children were, in order of birth, Martha, Charles, Mary, Robert, and Andrew, Jr.
Mrs. Johnson was a great help to her husband throughout his political career. But she avoided public appearances and stayed in the background. Poor health gradually further restricted her activities. Mrs. Johnson died on Jan. 15, 1876.
See also Johnson, Andrew .
